Llarena finally confirms Puigdemont’s suspension as an MP

Pablo Llarena, the investigating judge in the case against the leaders of the 1 October referendum, finally dismisses Carles Puigdemont’s appeal against his suspension as a member of the Parliament of Catalonia. The suspension was ordered on 9 July 2018 under Article 384 bis of the Criminal Procedure Law, by which public officials prosecuted for terrorism or rebellion may be suspended from their positions. Puigdemont had appealed his suspension at the same time as the rest of the prosecuted MPs who had been suspended (Junqueras, Turull, Romeva and Rull) but while the Supreme Court confirmed their suspensions on 30 July 2018, Puigdemont’s appeal had remained pending. On 10 July 2019, the Supreme Court will dismiss Puigdemont’s appeal against Llarena’s decision.